gate

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A movable barrier that opens and closes an entrance in a wall or fence.

   Grammar: Countable; used with 'a' or in the plural: 'a gate', 'the gates'.

   Patterns

   • open the gate
   • close the gate
   • at the gate

   Please close the gate behind you.

   The garden gate was painted white.

   We waited at the gate for the farmer to let us in.

2. 2nouncountable

   A numbered area at an airport where passengers board or leave an aircraft.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'at': 'at gate 12'.

   Patterns

   • at the gate
   • boarding gate
   • gate number

   Our flight leaves from gate 22.

   Please proceed to the boarding gate.

   The gate changed, so we had to hurry.

3. 3nouncountable

   A numbered entrance point at a stadium, arena, or other large venue.

   Grammar: Countable; used with 'at' or 'through': 'enter through gate 4'.

   Patterns

   • gate number
   • enter through the gate

   Enter through gate 4 for the north stand.

   The gates open two hours before the match.

   We met at the main gate of the stadium.

4. 4nouncountabletechnical

   A device that controls the flow of water, especially in a canal or dam.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in the plural: 'the sluice gates'.

   Patterns

   • sluice gate
   • open the gates

   The sluice gates were opened to release water.

   The dam has several gates to control the river.

   Engineers inspected the flood gates.

5. 5nouncountablecomputingtechnical

   A logical circuit that produces an output only when certain input conditions are met.

   Grammar: Countable; used in computing and electronics: 'a logic gate'.

   Patterns

   • logic gate
   • AND gate
   • OR gate

   The circuit uses several logic gates.

   An AND gate outputs 1 only if both inputs are 1.

   The processor contains millions of gates.

6. 6nouncountableinformal

   A scandal or controversy, especially one involving a public figure or organization.

   Grammar: Countable; often used in compound nouns like 'Watergate' or 'deflategate'.

   Patterns

   • -gate
   • the ...gate scandal

   The scandal became known as 'partygate'.

   Another 'gate' has hit the government.

   The media loves a good -gate.

Word forms

Common combinations

open the gate

He opened the gate and drove in.

close the gate

Always close the gate so the animals don't escape.

boarding gate

The boarding gate for our flight is B7.

main gate

The main gate is locked at night.

gate number

Check your gate number on the screen.

Synonyms and how they differ

door

A door is usually an entrance to a building or room, while a gate is an outdoor barrier in a wall or fence.

portal

A more formal or literary word for a large or impressive gate.

Word family

gatekeeper noun

A person who controls access through a gate.

gatecrasher noun

Someone who attends a party or event without an invitation.

Commonly confused: gate or gait?

Practice

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